[CQ-Contest] 7QP rule changes for 2017

[Dick Frey]

In response to many requests, we have added a "Single-op Assisted" 
category.   As a result, the Multi-op Single Transmitter category is 
being trimmed to two classes: just low or high power.

In the County Expedition category, we are adding an "Open" class.   This 
is in response to a big multi-county effort made last year by a group 
from the Northern California Contest Club.   They operated multi-multi 
from several different county lines, one spot in a single county, and 
ran as a mobile while driving between them.   Not wanting to hamper this 
kind of enthusiasm, we have created a category we call Open, or as one 
might put it, "none of the above".

In concert with the Assisted category, we are enabling any mobile 
station to beacon its location using APRS.   Only your call and location 
may be sent, not your frequency.   This should improve the way many 
fixed stations chase the mobiles.

We are going to keep the ten-day log filing deadline.   Since 90% of all 
participants are using electronic logging, submitting your log is a 
matter of a few mouse clicks: export the Cabrillo formatted log file, 
attach it to an email, and send it off to the sponsors of all four QSO 
parties that happen on our weekend.   This shorter deadline allows us to 
process and score all the logs, determine the category and 
state/province/county winners, and send out the certificates -- all 
before the first of June.

-- 
Dick K4XU
7QP manager